Phoenix Suns: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images /
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5. Derrick Favors

According to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune, Derrick Favors wants to remain with the Utah Jazz and the team intends to re-sign him, but the big man will also test unrestricted free agency. If the two sides can’t come to an understanding, a defensive-minded power forward of his caliber should be on Phoenix’s radar.

Like Luc Mbah a Moute, another guy on our list, he’s not the reliable stretch-4 Phoenix really needs, but the 30th-ranked defense in the league can’t really afford to be picky either. Favors is a stout defender his position, so even though he wouldn’t spread the floor, he might be an affordable option at a position of need.

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Point guard is still the Suns’ most glaring hole, which makes it hard to envision McDonough committing a significant chunk of his team’s available cap space to a guy who shot 22.2 percent on his 0.8 3-point attempts per game last year. However, Favors’ value has been significantly lowered by a pair of injury-riddled numbers where his numbers shriveled up, making him a potential buy-low candidate who could re-establish himself on a rebuilding team like the Suns.

Just two seasons ago, Favors looked like the next big thing in Utah, averaging 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. His numbers took a nosedive the following year thanks to injury and the emergence of Rudy Gobert. His “bounce-back season” in 2017-18 entailed 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, albeit on a career-high field goal percentage of 56.3 percent.

If the Suns value 3-point shooting at this position above all else, Favors is obviously out for the league’s worst 3-point shooting team. However, if they want to address the league’s worst defense, Favors could be an option.